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The Contrails: Aircraft, Weapons Systems: MQ-1B Predator
Manufacturer: General AtomicsFunction: Armed Reconnaissance, Airborne Surveillance and Target AcquisitionService Date: 1996Speed: Up to 135 mphCrew (GCS): TwoProduction: 186 Inventory: 126Commentary: An operational Predator system includes four air vehicles, a ground control station (GCS), satellite link, and 55 personnel for 24-hour operations.

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12/062016

The Contrails: Aircraft Weapons Systems: U-2S/TR-1 Dragon Lady
Manufacturer: Lockheed MartinFunction: High-AltitudeReconnaissance Service Date: 1955Speed: 410+ mphCrew: 1Production: 35 Inventory: 33Commentary: Although the U-2 was designed initially in the 1950s, current aircraft were produced primarily in the 1980s, when the production line was reopened to produce the TR-1, a significantly larger and more

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11/292016

The Contrails: Aircraft, Weapons Systems: HH-60G Pave Hawk
Manufacturer: SikorskyFunction:Special Operations/Personnel Recovery Service Date: 1982 Speed: 184 mphCrew: FourProduction: 105 Inventory: 99Commentary: The HH-60 is a specially modified version of the H-60 Blackhawk used primarily for combat search and rescue, also aeromedical evacuation, casualty evacuation, civil SAR, and other support

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11/212016

The Contrails: Aircraft, Weapons Systems: CV-22A Osprey
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter and BoeingFunction: Special Operations Long RangeSpeed: 277 mph (cruising speed)Crew: FourProduction: 50 (planned)Inventory: 17 Commentary: The USAF received its first aircraft in January 2007. IOT&E was completed by summer 2008. The first operational deployment, to Africa, took place in November 2008, and the first

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11/152016

The Contrails: Aircraft, Weapons Systems: VC-25 Air Force One
Manufacturer: BoeingFunction: Presidential Air TransportService Date: 1990Speed: 630 mphCrew: 26Production: 2 Inventory: 2Commentary: The VC-25 is most famous for its role as Air Force One, the call sign of any US Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. The two aircraft currently in US service are highly modified versions of

The Contrails: Aircraft, Weapons Systems: KC-135R/T Stratotanker
Manufacturer: BoeingFunction: Aerial Refueling/AirliftModified Functions: Special Mission, ReconnaissanceService Date: 1957Speed: 530 mphCrew: Three (Tanker)Production: 732 Inventory: 204Commentary: Currently the Mainstay of the USAF tanker fleet, the long-serving KC-135 is similar in size and appearance to commercial 707 aircraft but was designed

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10/262016

Service before self: Volunteer work links Academy officer to Colorado Springs
A young man from Jamaica beat the odds to become an Air Force officer and an advocate for youth in Colorado Springs.Maj. Paul Prosper didn’t always concern himself with volunteer work. His main concerns growing up were crime, poverty and academic challenges.Prosper is an assistant professor in the Academy’s Management Department. He keeps a busy

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10/262016

The Contrails: Aircraft, Weapons Systems: F-35 Lightning II
Manufacturer: Lockheed MartinFunction: Multirole FighterService Date: 2011Speed: 1,200 mphCrew: OneProduction: 1,763 (planned)Commentary: USAF’s F-35A will replace its current force of F-16 and A-10 aircraft with a stealthy multirole fighter that will comprise the bulk of USAF’s fighter fleet for up to 50 years.